Hong Kong leader warns taxi drivers against ‘drastic action’ amid threat of strike over ride-hailing services
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has warned that “drastic action” by taxi drivers would not gain public support, ahead of a deadline for a citywide strike demanding government regulation of unlicensed ride-hailing services.
The city’s leader made the comment on Tuesday, a day before the deadline set by the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association last week. The taxi union had said it would stage a five-day citywide strike starting March 5, if the government did not commit to crack down on ride-hailing platforms by Wednesday.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said many taxi industry representatives had indicated that they would not support or take part in “drastic action.”
“Drastic action will only harm the interests of citizens’ daily lives and it will not gain public support. It may even spoil things, and let individuals with ulterior motives hijack the issue,” the chief executive said in Cantonese.
The government has maintained a clear stance that taxi services need improvement, while ride-hailing platforms need to be regulated, he added.
Hong Kong is considering regulating online ride-hailing platforms like Uber with proposals to introduce a licensing regime. A proposal on the regulatory details is expected this year.
The embattled cab industry has railed against ride-hailing services, saying the largely unregulated platform posed unfair competition to taxi drivers.
Lee also told journalists that the Transport Advisory Committee would meet on Wednesday with representatives from the taxi industry and ride-hailing services companies.
“It is a good opportunity for everybody to talk through the whole thing rationally… to find out a solution,” he said.
The chief executive said improving taxi services and regulating ride-hailing platforms were issues that had been “accumulated over the years.”
The Transport and Logistics Department had proposed solutions, such as introducing a taxi fleet to strengthen management and improve the industry’s services, he added.
The local cab industry saw increasing government regulation over the past year amid long-standing dissatisfaction with the sector and an attempt to improve post-pandemic tourism.
A new penalty points system came into force in September, which penalises malpractice such as overcharging and service refusals. Any drivers incurring 15 or more points in two years will be disqualified.
The authorities also proposed last December to require in-vehicle surveillance cameras, GPS, dashcams, and electronic payment systems in taxis.
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